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Friday, January 31, 2014

Pastor Jerry "I want to be your boo" Freeman was arrested for touching a girl inappropriately. The a pastor allegedly toucher the 13-year-old victim on her private parts.

Jerry Wilson Freeman, 61, of Ridgecliff Court in North Augusta, was charged with one count of lewd act on a minor and taken to the Aiken County detention center. A jail official said about 3 p.m. Friday that he had not been processed. North Augusta Public Safety officers first met with Freeman at his home on Jan. 1, according to a report. Freeman told them he is the 13-year-old victim’s pastor, and that she and her younger brother were staying with him on weekends. The victim told officers she texted her uncle, the complainant, that Freeman touched her on her private parts.

About a week ago, Freeman took the victim and her brother to Chuck E. Cheese in Augusta, police said. He bought the younger brother some token to play games in the restaurant but told the female victim to stay in the car. Freeman returned to the car and showed the victim a condom.

What? You are passing out KFC and praying with the other inmates? Oh... that's great. God is watching over you. I'm sure the Philippines just made up all those charges and you will be home in no time. Pastor Tom Randall is a fucking saint!!!

Oh wait... That was just a dream. Pastor Tom Randall is sitting in prison and it looks like he might be spending the rest of his life there. A different narrative exists, one counter the media blitz showing Randall as a victim, and it shows Pastor Tom Randall in an unfavorable light.

"I am not the one bringing charges," he said. "I did pass on information [about alleged abuse] I received. I passed the information first and foremost to my longtime (33 years) friend and ministry partner, Tom Randall. We have ministered together on many outreaches over many years. He is one of the finest servants of the Lord that I have ever met. I considered him closer than a brother. I, of course, assumed when he heard reports of abuse that he would act immediately. This he did not do, in fact he said he knew of some of these reports and I should leave it to him to handle it himself."

Thirty-one orphans gave sworn statements alleging that they were routinely raped. Randall's one-time friend Joe Mauk says that he informed Randall of the problem. Mauk went on to report the abuse to authorities and to a pastoral intervention team. For doing the right thing, Mauk is villainized and Randall is painted the victim. I hope you like balut pastor Randall. I think you are in for the long hall.

My message to Pastor Tom Randall: The Philippines is near and dear to me. If you are guilty, I hope you rot forgotten in prison.

In the Jan. 15 motion for a hearing on the evaluation of Terry Greer's mental state, Greer's lawyer asked that a judge find the 55-year-old clergyman was not "competent to conform his conduct to the law," dismiss the charges and have him transferred to a mental health facility.

The hearing is set for 1:30 p.m. Thursday before Jefferson County Circuit Judge Tommy Nail. Greer's trial on charges of murder and attempted murder is set for April 14.

More than a dozen people have come forward with allegation of sexual abuse against pastor Roy Harriger. A grand jury will review the case.

The case first came to light last Thanksgiving, when State Police announced Harriger’s arrest. The 70-year-old pastor of Community Fellowship Church in the Town of Hartland was charged with incest, sodomy, and course of sexual conduct.

He’s accused of molesting a boy and a girl about 12 years ago when he was pastor of the Wesleyan Church in Lyndonville.

Those who know him from church came out to support him.Church member Donna Kidney said, “I know he did not do it. He’s innocent. I know in my spirit, he’s innocent.”

Baptist youth worker and youth pastor Clyde Wesley Way was indicted for taking indecent liberties with four boys at a Baptist summer camp. He allegedly liked to play strip poker for sexual gratification.

Clyde Wesley Way, 68, was indicted Jan. 21 by a grand jury on four counts of taking indecent liberties with a child and four counts of indecent exposure, according to the Port City Daily in Wilmington, N.C. The acts are alleged to have occurred during a church retreat at the North Carolina Baptist Assembly at Fort Caswell June 24-29, 2013.

Prior to his arrest on July 10, 2013, at his home in Ablemarle, N.C., Way worked several years as volunteer student ministries team leader for the Stanly Baptist Association. Associational leaders removed him after four boys told their parents what happened at summer camp.

Two days later, Catherine, Gardner, and Ringnald met with the Groves inside the laundromat at the R&R Mercantile. Patty, who had earned the elders’ ire for daring to speak without her husband’s express permission, had decided that things might go more smoothly if she kept her mouth shut. It was at this meeting that Catherine told her father, “Dad, I don’t need you anymore. I want you and Mom to leave.”

Thursday, January 30, 2014

Pastor Kenneth Allen Keith, profile here, was arrested for murder back in October, now the Prosecutor is seeking the death penalty.

A central Kentucky prosecutor says he will seek the death penalty for a pastor accused of murdering three people at a Danville pawn shop in September.

The Lexington Herald-Leader reports Boyle County Commonwealth's Attorney Richie Bottoms filed notice Thursday that he will seek a death sentence against 48-year-old Kenneth Allen Keith of Burnside in Pulaski County. Keith has been in the Boyle County jail in Danville without bond since being charged Oct. 9.

The boy in this case did all the right things. Pastor Marini never had a chance.

Marini is a sex offender and is under an order not to have contact with anyone under the age of 16. I’m thinking this guy needs to spend the rest of his miserable life behind bars. He’s not going to stop going after our children.

I should come as no surprise that the members of Fellowship Baptist Church are standing by their pastor. It is an IFB thing to circle the wagons against outsiders and stand by their besieged IFB pastor Mark Lewis.

Sunday service was still going strong at Fellowship Baptist Church in Vacaville, despite their pastor being behind bars. No cameras were allowed inside, but we found out they’re praying for their pastor despite his arrest, first for arson and now forgery. Police are accusing Pastor Mark Lewis of some serious sins, including cheating on the very church he leads.

“They’re just trying to do anything they can to get him back in jail, and it’s so wrong,” said Charles Young, a parishioner.

My prediction is that the members of this church will stand by their pastor until the church is closed and Mark Lewis is in prison. Lewis can do no wrong. His church is a cult. They will follow their leader to hell if necessary. The truth be damned.

Christian missionary Warren Kennell was sentenced to 58 years in prison for sexually abusing girls while on mission trips to an indigenous tribe in the Amazon.

Warren Kennell admitted to befriending and abusing the girls over several years while he was establishing a church for the Sanford-based New Tribes mission, reported the Orlando Sentinel.

“We are heartsick,” said a spokeswoman for the ministry. “Children are to be protected, not hurt. We are grateful to the authorities for the prosecution of this individual despite international legal obstacles.”

Homeland Security agents began investigating the 45-year-old after they were tipped off that Kennell was posting photos on a child pornography website.

I don’t really know what to say here. Kennell molested innocent young girls and then traded photos of the girls with other pedophiles. Damn… And why do tribes in the Amazon need Christian missions anyway? That seems like another from of rape to me.

The problem with blasphemy laws is that the religious majority uses them as weapons of oppression against religious minorities.

At the moment, there are more and more pending blasphemy cases,’ said I.A. Rahman, one of Pakistan’s leading human rights activists. ‘Extremist organizations demonstrate and raise slogans, and judges are afraid. They agitate all the time, creating hatred, and the government is not doing anything. Successive governments have failed.’"

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Pastor Johnny Botello, 76, was arrested and charged for indecency with a child by sexual contact. Botello is the pastor of the Assembly of God Church on Sheppard Access Road in Wichita Falls, Tx.

The victim is an 11-year-old girl. The abuse took place in the church where the pastor allegedly touched the girls breasts under her clothing. Bottello admitted to touching the girl.

I just puked a little. This stuff is nauseating. My philosophy of late is to raze the church if the crime took place inside. I don’t think that is too much to ask. Perhaps it can be added as part of the penalty phase of the trial. I would write it up as Pastor gets 10 years. Church bulldozed and a park built in its place.

It is cathartic to name and shame the priest who abused so many of our children, Right?

The Catholic Diocese of Crookston has released the names of six priests credibly accused of sexual misconduct with minors. The action means all Minnesota dioceses have released lists of accused priests that have been kept secret for a decade.

Five of the six priests on Crookston’s list are dead. The sixth, the Rev. Joseph Jeyapaul, is facing extradition from his home in India to face charges that he sexually assaulted two teenage girls while he worked in the Crookston diocese between 2004 and 2005.

As more of the press releases make come out, we start to get a better picture of the size of the problem. Catholic clergy sexual abuse was a huge problem in the last three decades. I keep hoping that they have learned a lesson and will change their ways. I see some signs, but mostly its just one list of pedophile priests after another.

Pastor Michael Abromovich was arrested for kidnapping, robbery and impersonating the police. He is the pastor at Set Free Ministries in Colorado Springs. This case is crazy, but what do you expect from a man you chose to make himself look the very thing he was counseling against? At least Pastor Robert Murphy had a clear head about things.

Friends of Colorado Springs Pastor Michael Abromovich say his life of preaching Christian values began unraveling last fall after he told them he had been diagnosed with cancer and was dealing with a new baby in his family.

Their fears and concerns for Abromovich came to fruition when the man who mentored many others in Christian values at the Set Free Ministry ended up in a jail cell, charged with posing as a U.S. marshal to intimidate and rob gay men who thought they were meeting Abromovich for casual sex.

“He showed us that we couldn’t trust him anymore by the way he was acting, the things he was doing,” said Pastor Robert Murphy, who preached alongside Abromovich at the Colorado Springs ministry.

This post is a collection of stories about religious leaders, pastor, deacons and Sunday school teachers, who were arrested, convicted or otherwise made the news for various acts of hypocrisy. Some crimes are huge and typically originate in Africa. Other crimes are petty and mean and can originate anywhere. I typically post these on Monday for the previous week’s stories, but yesterday was too busy so I’m posting it for today. Enjoy!

Crimes and misdeeds

A trial date was set for pastor Scott Gilliam, who stands charged with conspiracy to distribute oxycodone and possession of oxycodone with intention to distribute.

Married pastor Craig Lamar Davis arrested for allegedly spreading HIV to his Congregation... with his penis. (Africa)

Pastor Emmanuel Mathew stands trial for the rape of three minors (Africa)

Rev. Edward Lettic was placed on leave because of a credible allegation of misconduct. Lettic was the priest at Immaculate Conception Church in Lancaster.

Because of the serious nature of the allegation, and consistent with the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, I must relieve Father Lettic of his duties as pastor of the parish and remove his faculties as a priest," he said.

Diocese spokesman Raymond Delisle said the investigation of the allegation will follow a canonical process that will be reviewed in Rome at the Vatican. A report of the allegation will be made to the Congregation for Doctrine of the Faith in Rome. He said part of the process will be that Rev. Lettic will be given legal representation as the case is reviewed.

Pastor Clarence Taylor, profiled here, was found guilty on all counts today. His bail was revoked and rest to $100k. The conviction was reported by a witness to the trail. The conviction was not covered in the press.

Taylor used Facebook and text messages to solicit sex from a 15-year-old boy, along with sending a nude photo to the boy. He worked at the Faith Tabernacle Church of God in Christ in Lancaster, Pa.

Monday, January 27, 2014

A new search warrant uncovered by CBS13 has found a pastor arrested in connection with the firebombing of an ex-girlfriend’s home and possible identity theft of a church is also under investigation for drugs.

The sprawling property that includes Pastor Mark Lewis’ church and his home was searched by officers, who found a handgun and methamphetamine on the property.

Hi starch friend, Charles Young, said this, "I know our God is real. I know that a negative force is out there trying to hinder us from doing our work”. Does this sound familiar? I should. It's typical IFB doublespeak. Pastor Mark Lewis is an IFB pastor. Damn. This case keeps getting weirder.

Rev. William Jeffrey Paulish pleads guilty to corruption of minors. Paulish faces seven years in prison.

The Rev. William Jeffrey Paulish, 57, of Blakely, entered the plea before Lackawanna County Judge Michael Barrasse. He was arrested in September, after police found him and the teen in his car in the parking lot at Penn State Worthington Scranton campus.The teenager, who wasn't wearing pants when police arrived, later told officials at the Children's Advocacy Center of Northeast Pennsylvania he performed oral sex on The Rev. Paulish.Source:Priest pleads guilty to corruption of minors by Rebekah Brown

Rev. Paulish is a Catholic priest who was assigned to Prince of Peace Church in Old Forge.

Pastor Mark Lewis was arrested for fraud this time. He is the gift that keeps on giving.

Vacaville police investigators are now accusing him of falsifying deeds with another church's tax and incorporation numbers as collateral."[He was] using information from a church in Riverside California, and a tax ID number from a larger, conglomerate international group out of Missouri, none of which are associated with [his church]," said Vacaville Police Lt. John Carli.Source: Vacaville pastor accused in firebombing back in jail

Something tells me that Lewis will be spending a lot of time in prison. What with conspiracy, arson, weapons charges, drugs, and now fraud. Yep… lots of time.

Sunday, January 26, 2014

The threat of religious indoctrination in our public schools is real. Christians often forget that we are a nation of many faiths (or no faith), and push their theology. This is why we fight for a secular education.

"Congratulations, you are the parent of a public school student! And welcome to Sabine Parish, Louisiana. We are so happy to have your child learning with us and we are so grateful that your tax dollars have permitted us to establish the educational programs and academic atmosphere we’ve developed over the years here. Let us provide you with a brief guide about what your child’s life will be like while he or she is at school with us each day.*

Let’s start with what your child will see when she enters or departs our school. “Paintings of Jesus Christ, Bible verses, and Christian devotional phrases adorn the walls of many classrooms and hallways, including the main hallway leading out to the bus pick-up area. A lighted, electronic marquee placed just outside the building scrolls Bible verses every day.

I made a decision to restart the Atheist Blogroll and then got sick. I am just now digging out. These six blogs are the newest members of The Atheist Blogroll. Please play them a visit and welcome them to our community.

Fojap - Sex, politics, Religion and other subjects not for mixed company.

Saturday, January 25, 2014

Once pastor Jeremy Whitman pulled the trigger and murdered Erik Ungerman, it set in motion a process that will shine a light into the darkest corners of Lancaster Baptists Church. I do not know if much will come of this, but I have hope. The IFB movement is corrupt. It's leaders are hypocrites. For proof, I offer the list of IFB pastors who I think qualify as horrible human beings and hypocrites. We will call this section, guilt by association.

My personal favorite is IFB Pastor Chris Settlemoir (posts) - May he rot in prison and his former church be bulldozed and made into a park.

And the link between Hammond and Lancaster is 1st Baptist Church in Long Beach, where the Chappell’s played.

Abuse allegations:

These allegations are just that undocumented allegations that appear in a comment thread. Are they real? Only reporting the allegation to the proper legal authorities will lead to a good resolution.

Posted by Innocence on January 22, 2014 at 12:05 am

I Thank God I don’t live in the state of California, or live in Lancaster, California, or attend Lancaster Baptist Church any more, If I did I might be incarcerated for life, I worked in the LBC, and help to build it from the very starting point. I know Jeremy and his family and every staff member at LBC. I moved out of Lancaster, California for about 13 years, all my children grew up in that church, and most of my children are great people now and productive citizens, about one year ago my youngest girl told us about a molestation that was happen to her as a child at the school, she said this went on for the entire time she attended, keep in mind, she is now in her twenties,

My family attended this church for a very long time. I was molested along with other children at that church . To whoever these people that our commenting about how great Lancaster is they can all go [removed] themselves. The trauma that was caused it affected my life more ways than anyone can ever imagine Many people that I’ve gone to the church and the school with did not turn out to be the “Godly” people that they attempted to influence.

There is a smoking gun here. There is a link between institutional corruption, immoral pastors, pastoral enrichment, sex abase, and the IFB movement. If you can’t see the thread of truth, I fear you are blind.

I am working on another post which will document the cult-like behavior of Lancaster Baptist Church and their unending push to build a cult empire in the desert north of Los Angeles.

I am an atheist and also an existentialist. I thought that I would pass along this outstanding article for those of you in the same camp.

In a controversial column from last March, I argued that most contemporary atheists are being fundamentally dishonest in claiming that godlessness 'is not only true but also unambiguously good for human beings.' It most certainly is not, I claimed, referencing passages of philosophy and poetry to show that, viewed honestly, atheism is 'utterly tragic' — and that the denial of this tragedy amounted to little more than 'sentimental, superficial happy talk.'

Many readers were not amused. A number of the most indignant critics limited themselves to colorful variations on 'how dare you say that!' But some gave a more substantive reply, wondering if I meant to imply that a genuinely honest atheism would involve living in a state of perpetual psychic misery.

That's a fair question — and one I'd like to answer by making a case for existentialism as the most honest form of atheism.

In an interesting bit of family trivia, one of my sons came to atheism via existentialism, only he discovered existentialism for himself as a result of thought and discussion with a friend. He was surprised to find that existentialism (or what he called it) was a thing. Another bit of trivia, I never spoke with my son about atheism. He never even heard the word as a child. I am a firm believer in letting people, especially my kids, come to their own conclusions about life. I’d love them as atheists or theists, or anything in between.

I’ve read more than a few comments from members of the Lancaster Baptist Church, at least I think they are members, that suggest murderer Jeremy Whitman was just an administrative assistant and not a pastor. I have proof that this is lie. Whitman was at least an assistant pastor and was a former youth pastor.

Evidence:

Cary Schmidt of Lancaster Baptist Church removed a post from November of 2009 naming Jeremy Whitman an Assistant Pastor. (Much love for the Wayback Machine!!) Why would a good Christian remove evidence that a murder was a pastor? I think we all understand the answer. He was trying to protect his precious church.

The following is a list of people that represent some great reasons to use twitter—even if you’d rather not post anything! They are wonderful, genuine servants of God. These are lives worth emulating! If you use twitter, you would benefit and be encouraged by following these leaders:

@PaulChappell – Dr. Paul Chappell, Pastor of Lancaster Baptist Church, a great pastor, great leader, and a genuinely godly man. It’s a blessing to serve the Lord under his leadership.

@wcbcdrr – Dr. Mark Rasmussen, Vice President of West Coast Baptist College, one of the most encouraging, faithful, knowledgeable, and fruitful men I’ve ever known. He’s a great leader and a great educator with a huge heart for people.

@johngoetsch – Dr. John Goetsch, Executive Vice President of West Coast Baptist College. He’s a great preacher, a very authentic Christian, a tireless laborer, and a steadfast life worth emulating.

@timchristoson – Tim Christoson, an Associate Pastor at Lancaster Baptist who leads and administrates adult ministries, Sunday school, and building programs. He’s a great leader with a servant’s heart and a faithful testimony.

@LarryChappell – Larry Chappell, Assistant Pastor, Sr. High Director and leader of the video and multimedia production of Lancaster Baptist Church. He’s a humble, godly, faithful Christian servant with an encouraging spirit and godly influence.

@cnav – Carlos Navarrete, Spanish Pastor of Lancaster Baptist Church. Carlos is wise beyond his years and a great encourager and leader.

@jeremylofgren – Jeremy Lofgren, Director of Graphics and Web ministry for Lancaster Baptist and extremely knowledgeable about media ministry. He’s one of the most faithful men I know and I have great admiration for him.

@TheBaptistEdu – Dr. Manuel Salazar, Administrator of Lancaster Baptist School, an exemplary Christian and a great educator with an amazing heart!

@petermordh – Peter Mordh, Director of Advancement office at West Coast Baptist College and one of the finest young leaders you will ever know.

Further Evidence:

I was talking with my wife Terrie this morning and she shared with me that the Ladies Bible Study began with nearly two hundred ladies in attendance. Terrie loves the fall season, and she has always enjoyed teaching God’s Word to children and ladies.

This morning I had the privilege of teaching soulwinning principles to a wonderful group of pastors in the state of South Carolina. This was a Striving Together Meeting hosted by Pastor Brent Armstrong.

I always miss my wife and family when I am preaching, but it is a joy to know that we are laboring together for the Lord, as we teach His Word and encourage His people.

As our assistant pastor, Brother Jeremy Whitman, helped me this morning, we were able to encourage God’s people through teaching and through a video presentation about West Coast Baptist College.

This Friday, I will have the privilege of teaching the Practical Theology class of West Coast Baptist College, and then of course, the joy of preaching and teaching God’s Word at Lancaster Baptist on Sunday. Second Timothy 2:2 says, “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.”

Thank you for your interest and prayers in our life and ministry as we labor to teach God’s Word in this needy hour.

Pastor Paul Chappell, the top dog at Lancaster Baptist Church, wrote a remembrance of murderer and former pastor Jeremy Whitman. Chappell enthusiastically eulogizes this murderer as if he had done nothing wrong. It’s so positive that it is hard to read. He goes on to say that the church is paying Whitman’s funeral expenses and that the church has established a memorial education fund for his children. But wait... Chappell does not say one word about the victim. Nothing at all is mentioned; not one single word. The victim, Erik Ungerman, was a good Christian too, so why is there no love, sympathy, or funds. Why is the independent memorial fund established for Ungerman sitting a lowly $1,600? Lancaster Baptist is one of the biggest churches in the area. It can't afford $3,000 to help a hurting family deal with the unexpected death expenses cause by your former pastor?

It’s all good though… Jeremy Whitman’s salvation is assured.

Because Jeremy had received Christ as his personal Saviour, I believe we will see Jeremy in Heaven. God promises that when we trust in Him for salvation, He saves us and keeps our salvation by His power.

This is where my head explodes. If you say this prayer…

Dear God, I know that I am separated from you because of sin. I confess that in my sin, I cannot save myself. Right now, I turn to you alone to be my Saviour. I ask you to save me from the penalty of my sin, and I trust you to provide eternal life to me. —Amen

…you can murder an unarmed man in cold blood. This violates the whole, Thou Shall Not Murder part of the Ten Commandments, but because you said 56 meaningless words, you live out eternity in heaven and all your earthbound friends sing your praises and take care of your widow and kids. That’s just screwed up. If there is no accountability for your acts in this world, what is the point of being good? Do you get a bigger house or more virgins or something? It’s ludicrous.

I understand taking care of Whitman’s family, but show a little Christian love and take care of the victim too. If you can’t manage Christian love, then how about some of the real thing?

Perry opposes a law that requires parents to seek medical attention for their children. You know… it’s anti-faith healing, which is anti-Religion. Perry fears it will trample religious freedom and a parent’s right not to have their children medically treated.

Thursday, January 23, 2014

Pastor Joseph Angel Olvera of Lifeline Ministries in Fullerton was found guilty of sexually abusing an 18-year-old woman who attended his church.

Joseph Angel Olvera, 55, of Fullerton was found guilty of two misdemeanor counts of touching an intimate part of another person.

Olvera formerly worked as a pastor at Lifeline Ministries, 552 E. Patterson Way, officials said. Prosecutors said that about 9 a.m. Aug. 22, 2012, Olvera approached the bed of the woman, who was living in the church, to wake her up for work.

Olvera rubbed her hand and arm, then her neck and back, and put his hand down her shirt, according to a District Attorney’s Office news release.

Baptist pastor Mark Lewis has been in the news a lot recently, what with all the allegations of firebombing his ex-girlfriend's house, drug use and unlawful guns. I also learned that he was sending nude selfies or semi-nude selfies around town, so I put out the word that I was looking for a copy of the photo. An anonymous good citizen sent this along.

Note: I edited the photo to include a happy face and I cropped the bottom of the photo to remove some nonessential junk. I have the original on file if needed for reference.

What is under the happy face? Pastor Mark Lewis is hiding his junk with a box of cupcake rolls.

We all know the Catholic shuffle. That's where a priest with sex allegations is shuffled from one parish to another, often without informing the members of the new parish. It happened again. Are you surprised?

Two and a half years after he was removed as pastor of a New Fairfield church for allegedly sexually harassing a female church employee, Monsignor Martin Ryan was appointed pastor of a Stratford Roman Catholic church.

Ryan's appointment Saturday at Our Lady of Grace Church prompted numerous calls from parishioners who said they were shocked to learn that their new spiritual leader was a priest who not only had been removed from a prior job, but had previously been accused of molesting a teenage girl in Trumbull in the 1970s.

A restraining order was granted against pastor Mark Lewis on behalf of ex-girlfriend Sarah Nottingham.

In Nottingham's request for the restraining order on Jan. 2, she indicated that she had tried to end her relationship with Lewis for weeks.

Nottingham wrote that on Dec. 21, Lewis told her, "If I won't be with him I've 'created a monster.'"

She further stated that after refusing to see him on Christmas Eve, he told her that he would ruin her Christmas. The next morning she awoke to find that her car windshield had been shattered. She reported the vandalism to police.

Baptist pastor Loren Winn was arrested and charged with inappropriately touching a 16-year-old girl. Winn is the pastor at Thompson Baptist Church, which is located at 209 Jackson St. Thompson, Pa.

At the Thompson Baptist Church, members attended services as usual this weekend, listening to their pastor preach in Susquehanna County. Sheriffs in Broome County, New York say that same pastor Loren Winn is accused of forcibly touching a 16-year- old girl there and endangering the welfare of the child a few years ago. Rob Severs lives just across the street from Thompson Baptist Church and heard of the accusations that upset many in this small community. “It’s disgusting, it’s upsetting yeah, it’s just very, very sad that we live in a world like that,” said Severs.

There are several churches involved in this case. Pastor Winn works at Thompson Baptist Baptist Church. The abuse allegedly occurred at First Baptist Church of Maine. Winn also worked at Buckingham Baptist Church in Wayne County. Oddly enough, pastor Ben Winn is the pastor at the First Baptist Church of Maine. I wonder if Ben Winn and Loren Winn are related?

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

The ‘Church’ in the headline is the US Catholic church and I think by now nobody thinks they were open and honest with regard to clergy sex abuse over the last few decades.

After a 13-year-old boy reported in 1979 that a priest raped him and later threatened him at gunpoint to keep quiet, the Archdiocese of Chicago assured the boy's parents that although the cleric avoided prosecution, he would receive treatment and have no further contact with minors.

But the Reverend William Cloutier, who already had been accused of molesting other children, was returned to ministry a year later and accused of more abuse before he resigned in 1993, two years after the boy's parents filed a lawsuit.

Officials took no action against Cloutier over his earliest transgressions because he 'sounded repentant', according to internal archdiocese documents released on Tuesday that show how the archdiocese tried to contain a mounting scandal over child sexual abuse."

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

The reasonable person test is something I use to determine if the remarks a pastor makes sound true or not. I ask myself, what would a reasonable person say in a situation like this. In the case of Mark Lewis, he fails the test. This is what he said when asked by a reporter about the arrest of three people who allegedly perpetrated the crime and are now saying that Lewis paid them to do the act.

"'They caught the people who did that,' the pastor said. 'They were just trying to point the finger at me. That's normal. That's normal. It'll come out and be cleared up.'"

Is that what a pastor would say in this situation? No! It sounds off. It sounds wrong. I come to this conclusion because of motive. Lewis is trying to explain why three people are linking him to the crime by saying something like, “Well, what do you expect from trash?”

The three people who were arrested for the firebombing have no motive other than financial gain. These losers did it for money. Why? Because a few hundred dollars is a lot of money to homeless drug addicts. It is simple math. Do the pastor a favor = make a hundred bucks = go get high. We all know this to be true.

Lewis is linked to both groups. The victim is his ex-girlfriend and at least one of the homeless lived with Lewis at his church. All three suspects are making the same allegation against Lewis. They were to be paid for what they did. By who? The person with the motive maybe? So far, that is only Lewis.

What could have Lewis said that I would have believed? A categorical denial of any and all evolvement along with an assurance of cooperation would have been a good start. Instead, he’s trying to figure out how to explain restraining orders, firebombing, drugs and guns. Did I mention he was a pastor?

What would you think the real cost to a church is when its pastor or youth pastor abuses children. Pastor Douglas Myers was convicted of molesting a boy repeatedly over a six-month period in 2005. He was sentenced and is served time on one count of lewd or lascivious molestation. He was released in 2012. The damage from his case… a jury awarded the victim $12.5 million. The award is under appeal.

This case is fascinating as it strikes at the heart of abuse by baptist pastors. With no central governing body for Southern Baptists, there is no accountability. This is true despite the Southern Baptist Convention sticking their noses in just about everything else, and gawd help you if you preach something hinky.

The judgment, reported by the Orlando Sentinel, followed a six-day trial over the matter of damages. Another jury in May 2012 found the Florida Baptist Convention liable for running criminal, credit and background checks but neglecting to check references before helping Myers plant two now-defunct churches with training, financial aid and what the lawsuit termed implied endorsement by reporting news of his endeavor in the Baptist state newspaper.

At the time a lawyer representing Florida Baptists challenged the ruling, saying it was inconsistent for the jury to agree with the convention’s main argument that Myers was not an employee of the state affiliate of the Southern Baptist Convention and yet still hold convention officials accountable for actions of someone they did not hire or supervise, but an appeal could not be filed until after the penalty phase.

The Souther Baptist Convention is on the hook for this.

The mother of the Florida victim identified only by the initial “J” filed a lawsuit in 2007 claiming that officials of the Florida Baptist Convention and Lake County Baptist Association, which gave Myers office space, should have known he was unfit for ministry before recruiting him to establish new Southern Baptist churches in Florida.

As a church planter, the lawsuit said, Myers acted as an "agent" of the convention, receiving organizational support including health insurance, retirement services and support through the state convention's Cooperative Program budget.

Myers was a pastor with a known problem with young boys, but the old boy network did little to make it difficult for Myers. No it looks like they will pay.

The victim in the latest crime was Erik Peter Ungerman. The suspect/suicide victim is Jeremy Whitman, who fired into Ungerman’s car at a traffic signal, which killed him. Whitman drove off and eventually killed himself. I’d normal stop here… only one of them was a wantabe baptist youth pastor. No wait… both of them were… crap. Is this a lover’s murder suicide thing?

“Erik was an awesome man who I was in love with for nearly two years, and Jeremy Whitman was our Sunday school teacher from Lancaster Baptist Church,” said Ungerson’s former girlfriend Tiffany Martin. She said Ungerman worked at DirecTV as an installation technician.

Whitman, up until last year, was an employee at Lancaster Baptist Church, and he was also a youth pastor intern at the church many years ago, according to LBC Associate Pastor Tim Christoson.

Both men knew each other so a road rage motivated killing is out. That leaves a dispute over what… love gone wrong, affairs, drugs or money, it could be anything. What is troubling though is that two “good Christian men” would choose do resolve their conflict in such an un-Jesus-like way. This is not what we expect and platitudes do not bring us to why at least one of two men opted to settle a score with gun.

Monday, January 20, 2014

I’ve created a bit of a mess for myself by getting sick in the middle of trying to get the Atheist Blogroll started again. I offer my apologies to one and all. It’s been almost 10 days since I’ve felt like spending any time on this.

Saturday, January 18, 2014

Pentecostal pastor Mark Wolford, 44, hosted an outdoor service at the Panther Wildlife Management Area in West Virginia Sunday, which he touted on his Facebook page prior to the event.

"I am looking for a great time this Sunday," Wolford wrote May 22, according to the Washington Post. "It is going to be a homecoming like the old days. Good 'ole raised in the holler or mountain ridge running, Holy Ghost-filled speaking-in-tongues sign believers."

Robin Vanover, Wolford's sister, told the Washington Post that 30 minutes into the outdoor service, Wolford passed around a poisonous timber rattlesnake, which eventually bit him.

"He laid it on the ground," Vanover said in the interview, "and he sat down next to the snake, and it bit him on the thigh."

This whole snake-handling theater act is meant to show faith in God. Faith that can overcome a snake bite. Did we need more proof that this is approach does not work? Do I need to show respect simply because it is a religious observance? Can I make fun of these idiots without fear of some nutter filling up my inbox with hate? The stupid makes my brain hurt.

Pastor Craig Lamar Davis, who stands accused on reckless conduct for allegedly knowing the he was infected with HIV while engaging in unprotected sex with several unknowing women. Pastor Davis is a loon. His defense is crazy.

"Turner also made a brow-raising statement in the courtroom even after his client had already openly admitted to his HIV status and treatment process for it, ‘When they tell you that he tested positive for HIV. What that means is that there is an assumption that he is HIV-positive. There is no test that can measure that on the face of this earth.’"

Pastor Davis was being treated for HIV, but claims that no test can prove he has HIV. What does that have to do with having the knowledge that he had HIV while sleeping around with unsuspecting women? Dumbass.

*** Update 2/2/2014

Pastor Greg Lamar Davis was found guilty. He faces 20 years in prison.

Baptist pastor Otis B. Jetter, profiled here, was sentenced to 40 years in prison. Jetter, who is 70, was the pastor at Pilgrim Chapel Missionary Baptist Church in Indianapolis.

Jetter was convicted by a jury last December of molesting a child who, at the time of the first molestation, was 12 years old. The accuser, now in his 30s, came forward in 2012, telling police Jetter began molesting him in the mid-'90s.

The man said Jetter often picked him up for church or dropped him off at home afterward.

A probable cause affidavit said the accuser told investigators that in November of 1994, Jetter picked him up and then parked near Indianapolis International Airport, forcing the boy to perform a sexual act on him.

The congregation stood behind pastor Clare even when the DNA evidence proved that he impregnated a 15-year-old girl that he had raped since she was 12-year-old. This was typical of the comments on my original post…

John Williams wrote

Sure the allegations/accusations are ugly but in my opinion, where is the beef? I am anxious to learn how this dan evidence came into existence. I am always suspicious of the 'authorities' that be. Did they take his dan and fabricate this dna evidence from the ground up? or [sic] is there some sort of new reverse dan [sic] technology that can indict a suspect based on past remote events? or [sic] is this some sort of new psychic indictment? The dna evidence and the indictment are both highly suspect. I have done extensive research thus far and it seems that most arbortion [sic] clinics get rid of fetal remains (a bio harzard) [sic] unless the parties suggest research as an option. Another school of thought would be, its a legal requirement that arbortion [sic] clinics reserve fetal tissue samples especially when the patient is underage but even this does not hold true… as we all know that arbortion [sic] clinics always protect their subjects regardless of how pedophile they circumstances are. Frankly I am not convinced by the evidence presented by the DA's office thus far. We'll have to see what is presented in court.

I find too many cases of pastor worship in these stories. When will believers understand that giving authority over your life to a man who wraps himself in religion is unwise?

Youth pastor Robert David Wright was arrested and charged with possession of child pornography. Wright led the youth group at Clynmalira United Methodist Church is Phoenix, Md. If true, this is an ugly case.

A youth pastor was arrested and charged with possession of child pornography after police found thousands of images of female babies, toddlers, prepubescent girls and other children being raped on his home computer in Cockeysville, Md.

Former Methodist youth pastor Timothy Thomas plead guilty to second-degree rape. Thomas will serve eight years. He get a credit for 283 days served. He will serve three years in Coffee County Jail. The rest of the sentence is suspended. He will be back on the streets as a convicted sex offended on March 7, 2016. His victim was a 14-year-old girl.

Friday, January 17, 2014

Officials in the Philippines have arrested pastor Tom Randall of World Harvest Ministries on charges of child molestations, rape, and human trafficking. The crimes carry the death penalty. Randall alleged used girls from his orphanage for sex and would send young girls to service his friends.

A report published on Inquirer.net (a Filipino national news website), states Randall was arrested for “allegedly abusing children” and that Toto Luchavez and Jake Luchavez were also arrested for allegedly sending “orphaned girls to friends for sex.” The report describes Randall as a former player in the Manila Industrial and Commercial Athletic Association (the forerunner to the Philippine Basketball Association) and states that the three men are facing charges of human trafficking, rape and child abuse.

HUDSON, Ohio - Nearly 15,000 supporters of a Hudson-based pastor working overseas have rallied to his defense on Facebook as he faces serious charges.

Tom Randall, who lives in Stow and works part-time at a Hudson church, has been detained by authorities in the Philippines and charged with human trafficking, according to the Nordonia Hills News Leader.

A former chaplain for the PGA tour in Oklahoma, Randall went to the Philippines to check on an orphanage he helped start and to provide relief after a devastation typhoon hit the country, his defenders say.

The accusor was not pleased. He refused to meet with Tom to discuss the Child Services and the FBI report. He went quiet. We hoped he would realize the damage false accusations can do. Instead he went to the U.S. Embassy and Homeland Security. The original charge was that a worker at the orphanage had kissed one of the girls. That ended up to be untrue. The girl recanted the story and said she made it up because she was angry that privileges had been taken away as discipline. By the time the accusation was presented to the U.S.Embassy the charge was that the World Harvest orphanage was actually a front for sex trafficking. For those of us who know Tom the charge borders on insanity but to Homeland Security it seemed all too possible. The charges morphing from a worker kissing a child to Tom being guilty of aiding and abetting a sex trafficking ring is something someone will have to account for some day.

The story in America is that a good man stands falsely accused. His supporters want him released from prison and sent back to America where he will be out of reach of Justice. They claim his health is failing, which evokes Midnight Express. They claim the process is corrupt and that no justice will be found. They give the story no credence. They fear the punishment, which is death.

I’ll keep an open mind. Give Randall his day in court. If he did molest those little girls, then let the authorities deal with him via the law of the land. That is justice. If Randall cannot pay the price, he should not play the game.

By the way… the story does not make sense. The U.S. Embassy has no authority to arrest and detain people in the Philippines, nor does Homeland Security. This alternate description of events does not ring true. Sorry.

There is an unconfirmed report that pastor Mark Lewis bought, used and sold meth when visiting Sacramento. It's an unbelievable twist in an already odd story.

$1,200 is what John Maes claims he used to charge for two ounces of meth along West Capitol Avenue in West Sacramento.

On his list of customers, he says, was Vacaville Pastor Mark Lewis.

“It was probably about 1:30 a.m. when I met him a few months back. He told me he was looking to buy some meth,” Maes said. “He told me he had a church in Vacaville and told me he usually makes some side money.”

During an interview with FOX40 Tuesday, Maes admitted that selling drugs to anyone, a pastor or not, was not his proudest moment.

“First thing that went through my mind was, ‘he’s lying.’ I mean, a pastor coming to West Capitol Avenue, and he’s selling meth out of the church? That can’t be,” Maes said.

I did not see this twist coming. Pastor Richard Shahan was allegedly leading a double life.

Investigators say that Pastor Richard Shahan was heading to the UK to marry is boyfriend and that he had no intention of returning the USA.

Richard Lee Shahan was arrested January 1 at Nashville's airport, approximately five months after his wife was stabbed to death in the couple's home. After going through 3,000 of his emails, prosecutors say they learned of Shahan's plan to meet his boyfriend in Europe, traveling first to Kazakhstan—where he'd told relatives and friends he was going on a three-year mission trip—and then settling in the UK.

"He planned to become a citizen there and begin a new life with his boyfriend... who he intended to marry," Deputy Jefferson County District Attorney Leigh Gwathney told AL.com. "He had no intention of ever returning to the United States. He had no home to return to and he had said his goodbyes to his family."

Why send your child to a Baptist school when the pastor who runs it is likely to abuse your child?

"Parents and employees at a small Baptist school in Attleboro were ‘devastated’ when they heard the school’s principal had been charged with sexually abusing a student on campus over nearly five years, and the alleged victim said she felt ‘relieved’ after speaking to police.

The Rev. Jeffrey Nichols, 47, principal of Grace Baptist Christian Academy and assistant pastor at an affiliated church, was arrested early Tuesday after an 18-year-old senior reported to Attleboro police that he had ‘victimized’ her from September 2008 to June 2013, according to a police report obtained by the Herald. Nichols was arraigned Tuesday and is being held on $25,000 cash bail."

There is nothing like exposing a pedophile pastor. I will never understand why religious parents think sending their child to a second-rate religious school is a good idea. Lack of oversight and the baggage that comes with religion by default should be enough to keep parents away. Plus, a school is just another way for a pastor to make income off his church business. When you add in that your child is exposed the risk of clergy sexual abuse… public school looks like a good option. Except in Texas.

Monday, January 13, 2014

I had a feeling that there was more to the story of pastor Mark Lewis and his alleged attempt to firebomb an ex-girlfriend. It seems I was right. I found this while doing some research into the suicide of his wife, Joanna Lynn Lewis. Her parents asked the money be donated to a battered women’s shelter. I wonder why?

UPDATE: Mark Lewis has been caught cheating with the ex wife of another man, and using drugs, lying, being a complete hypocrite, not wanting a directory so that people can associate with each other outside of church. The ladies, especially the younger ones are especially enamored with him. He is a narcissist, and I wonder how many other women he slept with. His wife committed suicide over some sort of financial scandal in 2011. I'm beginning to wonder if there wasn't more to it. He almost stepped down from ministry. Now, I wish I had, because he got to me too. I totally fell for all of his B.S., and when I heard this news, it was from a family who used to lead music there. They told me that he was having an affair, had someone bringing hi drugs onto the property, and not only that, I suffer from fibromyalgia. Their caretaker offered me a "joint" for my pain, on the premisis of the church. I warned Mark, but he didn't take it seriously at all, which is going off like alarm bells now. I totally bought into his charm, his wit, and how good he is behind that pulpit, but even satan can masquerade as an angel of light. I have dropped a dime on him, as he already had his car searched by the police dept just a few short weeks ago. I told him that the caretaker offering people weed was going to take the whole church down, and not only did they search Mark's car, they searched his car as well, which wasn't even his, he was just driving it.

I know he is hurting after his wife's death....but at least now he feels no pain, and he's having sex again!

God bless him eh?????

To be honest, cheating with the ex-wife of another man, especially if you are single, is fair game. Although, in Baptist land, that would still be a sin because sex out of wedlock is fun. The other allegations, those are serious. Here is the list.

Using drugs (Meth)

Lying

Being a hypocrite

Controlling communications

Narcissist

Reading further into the long list string of posts we find these allegations.

Our sweet daughter died after years of physical, spiritual, and emotional abuse by Mark Lewis. We have been devastated by her loss and nothing will bring her back. It is, however, a small measure of comfort to know that his abuses are coming to light. We hope people, in memory of Joanna, will share with police all they know, including information that may help resolve questions still remaining surrounding the circumstances of her death.

I’m home sick today. I read the whole damn thread coving three years of lies, charges and counter charges. Pastor Lewis makes his presence felt in several posts. It is really too much to take in all at once. This man and his church are a mess. Here’s to hoping that it closes for good and he goes to prison.

James Dobson would rather shut down that give required coverage to his employees. I don’t think that’s a bad thing. In fact, I want to encourage him to shut his business down now matter what. Do it as a sign of protest.

"The evangelist James Dobson still refuses to comply with the Obamacare legislation. His staunch opposition to the plan, which requires employers to cover abortifacients – or substances that induce abortion, made headlines once again this week. During an interview, Dobson made it clear that his organization refuses to abide by the abortifacients portion of the birth control mandate, even if it means shutting down his organization. He went on to say,

‘We are suing (HHS Secretary) Kathleen Sebelius for forcing or trying to force all of us to give abortifacients medications to our employees,’ and I just absolutely refuse to do it. We’ll close down before I’ll do it.’"

Crime

Pastor James Rodelo of Anahola, who was sentenced to 30 days in jail, five years probation and 400 hours of community service for beating a tenant for giving his foster children marijuana. I'm not sure this should be a crime...

Criminal charges dismissed against Pastor Joel Arwood. He had been charged with assault and false imprisonment in exorcism case. A civil case is still pending.

Rev. Shelton P. Sandford, co-pastor at Westminister Presbyterian Church in Rock Hill, was arrested for DUI.

Perhaps if pastor Hamblin had actually take better care of the snakes…

A Tennessee preacher who used poisonous snakes in his religious practices won’t face criminal charges. But he also won’t get back the 53 serpents wildlife officials seized from his Tabernacle Church of God.

It makes no difference that a grand jury declined to indict Andrew Hamblin last week; the snakes are contraband, ‘so we can’t return them,’ Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency spokesman Matt Cameron was quoted by the Knoxville News Sentinel as saying."

What pastor Hamblin and the congregation of his Tabernacle Church of God did with the snakes is not the issue. The law states possessing the snakes is a crime. They should have been prosecuted. What we see here is another example of religious privilege. No charges were brought because… religion. Having said that, I don’t really care if the worship with snakes, just take care of the things.

This story keeps getting more interesting. Here are the latest developments in the Pastor Mark Lewis case.

Pastor Mark Lewis was arrested for sending three homeless people to firebomb his ex-girlfriends house. Lewis was arrested for conspiracy in connection to the firebombing. The ex-girlfriend, Sarah Nottingham, broke off the relationship after nude selfies of the pastor started showing up around the community. Sarah Nottingham allegedly received death threats after the break up. Her car and house were vandalized. She has a restraining order against Lewis. Police found an illegal handgun and suspected methamphetamine in the pastor home. And the big news… police are re-opening the suicide of the pastor’s ex-wife, who took her life in 2011.

Lewis made bail. I think he posted on my blog last night. He’s a little sensitive about his education and stupid too.

I completely agree. You need to know the facts!!!! In addition, this blog is all about putting some one down. It is sad today we are trying to teach kids/teens not to bully, but yet adults are. In addition, if its all about education you care about, then you should know I went to a University and went to grad school.

“I didn’t do it … I didn’t have someone else do it. What do you want me to say? That’s the truth,” Lewis said.

A special note to my readers. I want the nude selfie of pastor Mark Lewis. I will put it front and center on my blog for the world to see his little hypocrisy. Please send me a copy.

The three people Lewis allegedly sent to firebomb Sarah Nottingham's residence were named yesterday.

A responding officer spotted a lone rental car in the area heading towards the highway and stopped it. The occupants, 33-year-old Anthony Newbolt, of Sacramento; 28-year-old Richerd Wright, of Sacramento; and 30-year-old Kristen Broyles, of Citrus Heights, were arrested in connection with the firebombing.

The nice thing about sending other people to do your dirty work is that the will all tell a different story. Who are you going to believe? The pastor or his minions?